The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-10-12
Will a Negro Steals

Editor Mirror: . ...
There should be pretext touching the anx-
iety of the colOred man. said Cleveland ir his
inaugural address, neither should they be permit
ted to monOpOliZe the columns of THE MIRROR,
especially when they do not write anything worth
reading. Every six months is often enough to
hear from the few negroes that here, and not
then unless interesting instead of trying to get
into a rat hole. They are inclined to keep them
selves before the readers of THE MIRROR. 1
suggest to these writer's that where Ignorance is
bliss tits folly to be wse,'' and the is true;
if it not they would not be here. Their
articles, like some Of their white brothers, all
have the same tone-mainly that of deception
and "I-amsOrry-I-did-it" They have not neral
courage to say they are sorry they did it, but hint
at it. THE PRISON MIRROR will fail if its arti-
cles not more candid and frank. Any man
with common sense can tell the truth from lie.
There is another feature about their articles.
They all plead bad company, whisky and women.
This is very poor plea, for if everybody pleads
bad company, where, then is the bad company?
Neither should they try to console themselves with
what thieves doing outside. mainly Sharp
Jake and Doodle aldermen. This does not ex-
cuse them. The question is, you going to do
better not? will you steal not? Make your
dcision now.
Some people think it very wrong to steal, es-
pecialIy in the United States. where their faulty
idea of honor has a tendency to make a man steal.
In 'S4, Cleveland appointed man to little Office
out in Colorado 1t found out afterwards
that the man was an ex-convict. All of the
papers kicked until Cleveland had to dismiss
him. Almost the same thing occurred in Chicago,
where an ay-cOnyict was driving horse car
know of other similar cases. These are
justified in stealing now. Indeed, hold that any
man is justified in stealing if he is in need, and
much his as it is anyone's. This 1 call honest
stealing, and when Irsoner is brought up he
should not be asked if he is guilty-he should
plead guilty if he IS guilty-and the court should
ascertain why he stole and whether he had need
of what he stole and help him to a Job some
where. If he steals again, burn brand on his
back, and if he steals again shoot him dead.
Sharp Jake and all like him ought to be shot be-
cause he had no need to steal This call dis
honest stealing. Christ stole horse when on
EARTH according to the American idea of stealing;
but he did not steal the horse because he had
need of him. He says so for when he got rr,dy
to go to the Holy City he sent man after Il horse,
"
disturbed him to say thy Master has need of the
colt" Christ's church was in danger, and he
saw no harm in using the colt as long as the colt
had not thing to do, and neither do l. because he
had need of it, The thieves were taking the
church and stealing. selling and buying
when they had no need to do so especially on the
Sabbath day. They were not satisfied with
enOugh-they wanted all.
Some weeks ago negro preacher in Tennessee
stole cow to pay off mortgage on his church.
They put him in prison, of course; but was it
right? No. a thousand times, no, for he had as
much right to steal to redeem his church
as Christ had to steal horse to redeem His
church. And SO hold the negro to be an honest
man, for he has no ambition and all he steals is
something to eat, this being all he wants. thus
proving again that where Ignorance is bliss it is
folly to be wise.'' l am glad that l am negro
and IL all the negroes that are prison in the
sOnth for stealing hogs, corn, chickens and sweet
potatoes were set at liberty, there would not be
many left. .5.-...-.~ .-,.- -..-s
1 got little extra tobacco the other day from
Kentucky and 1 will carry it all in my pocket
for. if leave it in my cell the pretty cons in the
cellroom will steal it.and could and would not
say aught for they have need of it, Consider
these thoughts for tell you that they are better
than importing anarchy. for the negro is and hon
est mau. Who will be first to start this move
ment? Maybe McGl.
' So, if McGill would let me out in 1887
s.. l tell you there would be fun
deal more than in H. f. 157,
And the people would say ''well done.''
/ I'd hasten to Egypt, interview the governors
after which their actions would be great for they
would forthwith pardon all niggers that are in
tor stealing something to. eat; and God would let
those governors pass, their actions he would eX-
| onerate, for pardoning the negroes in time to
vote for Jim Blaine in 'Ss. w. TURNER
Oct. :, 1887. @-.